Holding your baby...

I was thinking yesterday about why it's different to hold your own baby/child than to hold someone else's.

There's the obvious emotional connection, etc. but a new idea occurred to me.

Leah knows my body so well.

When I'm holding another child it can take them a minute to get comfy. To figure out how to snuggle into me.

Leah doesn't need this time or even a split second. When I pick her up her body instantly molds into mine. When she is sleeping - she will reach out in her sleep and wrap her arm around my neck or snuggle with her back to me & her head on my arm. She never opens her eyes or anything. She just knows where she fits against me instinctively.

I love that.

I love my daughter. I love her connectedness to me. I love that her physical connection to me is a thing of "instinct" and requires no squirming to get comfy.

lost post

So my long lost post. Sheesh.

I was writing about my family. This is what it boils down to.

WHAT is with the attitude? Why is everyone always "What can you do for me?" "Who treating me right & who isn't?" "Why should I visit HER on Christmas? What has she done for me lately?"

Why is no one saying "What I can I do to help?" "How can I make this easier for him or her?"

I'm tired of asking myself that and watching people not asking it of each other. My can't people just BE NICE?!?!

Seriously. I can't stand it. We have GOT to move before the next holiday season and just have our own Christmas at home.

Ack.

I had a good holiday. I do love my family. But I do not understand the pervasive selfishness that exists in everyone's attitude and why they are all so busy making sure they get there fair share of everything and that everyone is treating them just they way they should.

Newsflash. It isn't all about you! (I want to say that to about 15 people in my family). Can you just think for a minute what it is like to have a family full of people who think it is all about them?

Don't get me wrong. They are good hearted people too. And fun. I have so much fun with my family. Lots of love & laughter. With a heaping dose of drama!

AHHHHHHHHHhh

I just wrote a REALLY long post and LOST IT. Freaking blogger! *weeping*

Blech

I came here to blog but I have changed my mind. I'm in a horrid mood. I just want to scream at someone.

Shock of all shocks.... Christmas kept me from blogging! Sheesh.

I have a whole bunch of blog posts floating around in my head.

Bipolar disorder
Grace (religious)
Leah's signing pictures
Christmas and overabundance
Christmas pics
Leah's fmom

There was something else. I just wanted to get those down so I didn't forget. Hopefully I'll be back. I have to figure out how to store all of Leah's toys in this place. Ack.

Man Bashing

Prompted by this post: http://away2me.typepad.com/away_to_me/2006/12/quit_frickin_ma.html

I promise to never bash on my husband on this blog. I pledge this to everyone who ever reads. I love my dear husband with all my heart - and no matter how mad I am at any given situation - he would be heartbroken to discover I had displayed my anger here.

And Drew - if you happen to ever come here and read... I love you.

more signs

Leah signed "help" last night! I was very excited. It's a "conceptual" one, KWIM? Not quite so straightforward as "candy" or "milk".

Of course what she wanted me to do was open a bag of caramel corn that Nana made... and I did! How could I turn her down after that??

Santa

So I'm not real big on those bawling babies on Santa's lap pictures. I've always thought it was so cruel. He's a stranger after all. There's no reason a kid should think he looks friendly. I mean - what IS all that stuff hanging on his face to a baby??

So we waited in line at our church's Christmas party. Leah was watching what happened with great interest and seemed quite happy about it all. I just keep telling myself if she seems reluctant I will NOT make her sit there. I will live without the pictures. But she was fine! Until the very moment her little butt touched his knee. She turned and looked at him up close and her little body stiffen and she looked petrified. I crouched down to pick her back up but just then Santa handed her a bag of candy and little toys...

Suddenly she leans back and melts into him. (and then everyone started laughing!) She looked at the bag for a minute. But then again she decided that she wanted the bag AND off of Santa's lap!

You can see the progression of the stories in the pictures....

NO! HELP ME!

Did you just give me a whole bag of candy??

                                             Okay Mister, this is pretty cool.

                              Mom! Get me out of here. Psst - make sure we keep the candy!

As a note when we got up this morning and came down stairs she immediately spotted the bag on the counter. Sigh. So I give it to her thinking "all that candy is wrapped, right?" Well, far be it for me to ever underestimate my one year old who careful unwrapped a big piece of chocolate covered in red foil. She didn't even tear it. How's that for fine motor skills!

Baby Signs 2

So I'm using this blog as a notepad too. And no one can complain because it's my blog.

I'm trying to make a list of all the signs Leah does.

I've gotten quite a few but I'm missing some.

Drink, No No (shakes her head as I mentioned or wiggles her pointer finger at you), Bless you (I always say bless you when she sneezes and - although it wasn't intentional - I always sort of nod quickly when I say it, KWIM? A polite nod. lol So after she sneezes or I sneeze she does a quick nod. How cute is that??).

Ugh now I've forgotten the others I was thinking of. I'll be back I'm sure!

The baby in the mirror...

Oh how we love the baby in the mirror! Let's give that baby some kisses...

And yes - after this we did her hair!